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Smell of Rotten Grass Covers Capital

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Smell of Rotten Grass Covers Capital

Citizens of Reykjavík have been complaining about a repugnant smell, found in many places in the capital, including Austurvöllur Square, Miklatún and other grassy outdoor areas. The smell is caused by calcium damage in grass that has been covered by a thick layer of ice for a long time.

“The reason why people are talking about it now is perhaps that today and yesterday the weather has been calm. The smell therefore hasn’t been gusted away,” Reykjavík City’s horticultural manager Þórólfur Jónsson told vísir.is.

He added that these circumstances don’t often arise in Reykjavík. “Although it must have happened sometime in the past, I don’t remember it occurring in recent years.”

The ice can become very thick and Þórólfur says that there’s not much that can be done. The city’s grass-covered areas, parks and soccer fields now face permanent damage if the situation does not improve soon.

“Our only solution? Get down on our knees and pray. This is more or less all over the city and even though we had equipment to remove the ice, I don’t think it would make any difference. I think we should start focusing on how to salvage the grass once it resurfaces.”